On her maiden voyage concert to promote her latest exotic album, Lagos Music Salon, Somi bridged the gap between American jazz and African sounds with a thrilling set at the Blue Whale Tuesday night. Teamed up with Liberty Elleman/g, Ben Williams/b, Otis Brown III/dr and Toru Dodo/p and dressed like a barefoot contessa, Somi used her 87% Cocoa Dark Chocolate voice to reach down into the red earth of a piece like the relentlessly rhythmic “Love Juju” as well as go from sub-tone Sarah Vaughan to June Christy cool during the tenaciously kinetic undercurrent supplied by Brown III on “Two Dollar Day.”
Williams’ bass created an irresistibly funky groove and Dodo demonstrated post bop flair on the ivories while Somi sang both lyrics and wordless on “Still Your Girl.” West African textures were palpable as Somi used thick oil paint strokes that mixed clarion calls to visceral depths on “Brown Round Things” and yet she was able to take a trek to East Africa with the flick of a wrist as Elleman supplied lithe and bouncing guitar licks on the festive “Ingele.” Mixing folk chants with stories ranging from hope to despair, Somi and company took the packed house on a vocal travelogue through the Serengeti, ranging from the musical peak of Mt. Kilamanjaro to the depths of the Ngorongoro Crater. The mix of elasticity with emotional depth is a one-two combo that only comes with the best of the heavyweights, and this lady might one of them.
The Angel City Jazz Fest starts at the Blue Whale Sept 22, and Vardan Ovsepian comes to town the 24th. Don’t miss out!